RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. [June 29, 2026] — In a historic and unanimous vote, companies and landowners in Research Triangle Park (RTP) have approved new development standards that adopt the RTP 3.0 framework—unlocking the ability to pursue mixed-use and residential opportunities for the first time in the Park’s nearly 70-year history.
RTP 3.0 is the result of a multi-year planning process to chart a long-range vision for the next half-century of innovation and economic growth in RTP. The plan is designed to strengthen research and development, expand economic opportunity, and better position the Park to attract and retain top talent. It introduces new development options that support a broader mix of uses, including enhanced corporate campuses, walkable mixed-use environments and limited residential options. These changes help preserve RTP’s legacy as a leading global destination for innovation while supporting one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
During the June 25 meeting of the RTP Owners and Tenants Association, the RTP Development Code and associated regulations were unanimously approved by all present and voting members, marking a defining moment in the Park’s evolution. The Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina Board of Directors subsequently approved the measure, completing a five-year effort to modernize how RTP grows and competes.
The updated covenants and design standards follow the zoning frameworks approved by Wake and Durham County Commissioners and introduce greater flexibility for how land can be used across RTP, including reduced setbacks and increased development density.
Together, these actions mark the transformation potential of North America’s largest research park from a traditional corporate campus model into a more dynamic, connected innovation community designed to attract talent, accelerate discovery, and drive long-term economic growth.
“RTP 3.0 began as a bold 50-year vision for what Research Triangle Park could become,” said Scott Levitan, president and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, and a lead visionary behind the RTP 3.0 planning initiative. “For decades, these 7,000 acres—an area roughly half the size of Manhattan Island—were defined by a single-use corporate campus model. That model served RTP well, but the future demands more. These new standards give companies the flexibility to reimagine their work environments and unlock new possibilities to create spaces where people can work, live, collaborate and connect, ensuring RTP remains globally competitive in research and development, and a leading driver of economic growth for North Carolina.”
This milestone builds on years of convening and collaboration among companies, landowners, university leaders, elected officials, public partners, economic development representatives and community members. An earlier vote in January 2025 passed with overwhelming support, and this final approval underscores the trust, alignment and shared commitment to RTP’s future.
“RTP 3.0 is the most significant modernization of Research Triangle Park’s land-use framework since its founding in 1959,” said Travis Crayton, vice president of planning and public policy at the Foundation, who helped lead the multiyear effort to develop the RTP 3.0 standards. “Achieving overwhelmingly positive support from such a diverse set of stakeholders is a remarkable milestone—one that reflects years of engagement, trust-building and shared vision. The new development standards and design guidelines create a clear path for companies to evaluate strategic growth, investment and innovation within the Triangle region, and help reinforce RTP’s role as one of North Carolina’s most important economic engines.”
As planning progressed, RTP Owners & Tenants Association members requested visualization tools to better understand how new development options could take shape, leading the Foundation to engage Ayers Saint Gross, a leading interdisciplinary design firm with extensive experience designing and advising universities and innovation districts, to illustrate potential future development scenarios across the Park. The resulting RTP 3.0 Vision Plan is not a prescriptive master plan, but a flexible framework developed to guide long-term growth while allowing companies and landowners to make decisions based on their individual needs.
With RTP 3.0 now approved, the framework maintains the traditional corporate development model while introducing three new development options:
- Enhanced Corporate Campus (ECC)
- Residential Neighborhood Development (RND)
- Mixed-Use Node (MUN)
These new options provide companies and landowners greater flexibility to align their real estate assets with evolving business needs, changing market conditions and talent expectations.
The RTP 3.0 Vision Plan acknowledges existing and potential future bus, bus rapid transit (BRT), and rail routes, ensuring RTP is prepared for future transit-oriented growth.
A central feature of the vision is the proposed RTP Greenway—a 10-mile north-south corridor connecting campuses, mixed-use nodes, and natural areas across the Park. Building on RTP’s existing 20-mile network of trails, the greenway is envisioned as both a recreational amenity and an economic asset, enhancing quality of life while improving mobility and connectivity.
“This unanimous vote reflects the strong alignment and shared confidence among RTP companies and landowners in the future of the Park,” said Gina Andersen, RTP site engagement lead for Cisco and president of the RTP Owners & Tenants Association. “Every organization in RTP has different needs, and these updated standards provide the flexibility to thoughtfully evolve campuses over time. Across industries, there is a clear demand for more modern, adaptable development options, and RTP 3.0 delivers a balanced framework that supports growth while preserving the innovative spirit that defines the Park. I’m especially grateful for the leadership and dedication of our Association members, including immediate past president Greg Luberecki. This level of consensus is a powerful signal of our collective commitment to RTP’s next chapter.”
Founded in 1959 through a unique partnership among government, industry and academia, RTP has long been anchored by the strength of its founding Tier I research universities and academic relationships. Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University are all represented on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and have been integral partners throughout the RTP 3.0 planning process. This continued collaboration ensures the Park remains a place where academia, talent and industry converge.
“This milestone reflects the enduring mission at the heart of Research Triangle Park since its founding: to bring together our world-class universities, industry leaders, and talent to drive innovation and create economic opportunity for all North Carolinians,” said Barbara Mulkey, Chair of the Research Triangle Foundation Board of Directors. “RTP 3.0 builds on that legacy while positioning the Park for the future, ensuring it remains a place where collaboration thrives, discovery accelerates, and the benefits of growth extend across our entire state.”
For those interested in learning more about the opportunities RTP 3.0 unlocks, the Foundation, in collaboration with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and with support from McAdams, is hosting the “RTP 3.0 Lunch & Learn: Reimagine the Park” on August 13. The session is designed for RTP companies and members of the development, design and real estate community.
It will provide an overview of the newly available development options, along with guidance on the application submission and approval process for current and prospective landowners. Attendees will gain insight into how the new framework is expected to shape future growth and investment across the Park. For additional details and to register, visit https://www.rtp.org/calendar/rtp-3-0-lunch-learn-reimagine-the-park.
For media interested in viewing the RTP 3.0 Vision Plan and sample renderings that represent the new development options, visit https://rtp.mediavalet.com/portals/rtp3.0.
RTP landowners can submit applications under the enhanced development standards starting July 16. To apply or learn more about RTP 3.0 opportunities, visit https://www.rtp.org/reimagine.
About RTP 3.0
Adopted in 2026, RTP 3.0 is the long-range vision and land-use framework guiding the next half-century of growth in Research Triangle Park (RTP). Building on RTP’s founding mission, RTP 3.0 strengthens the Park’s role as a global hub for research, innovation and economic development while responding to evolving workforce, market and regional needs. RTP 1.0 represents the Park’s original vision as a single-use, research-focused corporate campus designed to attract leading employers and anchor North Carolina’s innovation economy. RTP 2.0 built on that foundation by introducing Hub RTP as a vibrant, downtown destination—demonstrating how added amenities, density and community spaces could enhance the Park’s appeal and competitiveness.
Developed through extensive collaboration with RTP companies, universities, and public and private partners, RTP 3.0 represents the next evolution, transitioning RTP from a traditional suburban research campus into a more connected, flexible and dynamic 21st-century innovation community. Rather than a prescriptive master plan, it serves as a flexible framework that enables companies and landowners to modernize and evolve their properties over time. The plan introduces new development options, including enhanced corporate campuses, mixed-use nodes and limited residential opportunities, while prioritizing sustainability, connectivity and quality of place. To learn more, visit https://www.rtp.org/rtp3-0.
About Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park (RTP) is one of the most powerful engines of innovation and economic growth in the United States. As the largest research park in North America and one of the largest and most influential in the world, RTP spans 7,000 acres at the center of North Carolina’s eponymous Triangle region and is home to more than 55,000 employees and over 385 companies, startups and national labs.
Anchored by its founding Tier I research universities—Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—RTP connects world-class research, talent, and industry to attract investment, support job creation, and advance global innovation. The Park is home to industry leaders including Apple, BASF, Biogen, Cisco Systems, EPA, Fidelity Investments, IBM, Labcorp, Lenovo, Lilly, NetApp, NIEHS, RTI International, and United Therapeutics. RTP generates an estimated $25.1 billion in annual economic value for North Carolina.
RTP is stewarded by the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that guides the Park’s long-term vision, development, and growth. Through its board of directors and staff, the Foundation oversees land use, covenants, and shared amenities across RTP while convening leaders from universities, industry, and government to foster collaboration and drive economic opportunity for the state.
With a legacy of collaboration and a forward-looking approach to growth, RTP continues to evolve as a premier corporate destination for innovation and opportunity. To learn more, visit https://rtp.org.
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VP of Marketing & Communications
RTP 3.0 Vision Plan
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